Helga hufflepuff who was one of the 4 founders of hogwarts always favoured those students who were just and loyal. Helga also valued fairness and out of the 4 founders she was the most inclusive and open to accepting students from all blood types  and of all talents. Helga was very talented at charms and enjoyed eating and making feast. Rumor has it that still centuries after she died her recipies are still used to this day. The reason that the animal of hufflepuff is a bager because badgers are loyal, fiar , hard working, peaceful and justice. Badgers are also gentle but can take on larger animals, this represents that hufflepuffs arent just soft they are as tough as any other house.